Memories

Last Sunday, when the girls were off doing their own thing, Mr Bun said to me I need to show you the most beautiful shop window ever. We walked a fairly short way, but in the freezing wind it felt like a very long way. I thought ungraciously, 'this better be worth it'.

Then we arrived at Junk & Gems and I knew straight away it was worth it. I should never have doubted or questioned as my man knows a good thing when he sees it.

The shop was closed and would next be open on a Tuesday. I looked at all the beautiful things in that window and thought of how much I would like to hold them. Now as I only teach a half day on a Wednesday I planned over the next couple of days to head over to that part of the city and have a rummage of my very own. Just before 12.30 a couple of friends called to take me to lunch. I kept quiet about my plans, enjoyed their company and then headed off to Junk & Gems.

Christmas treasure from the past is exciting and magical. These are just once a year things that have survived partly because they get packed away carefully at the end of the festivities. 

I took a few rolls of the wrapping paper to add to those already at home. I love this paper not only because of the feel and look of it. The paper is slightly thicker than tissue paper with garish colours and jolly bold designs that make me feel so happy to look at it again and again. I also love it, and this is probably the main reason I wanted it, because it takes me right back to childhood.

Mrs Leeder's sweetshop in the village I grew up in was packed to the gills with comics, jars of sweets, toys and at christmas this beautiful paper which Santa always wrapped my gifts in. I can still remember my dad taking me there late one evening to stop me crying before my mum got home. I chose a thick rubber bouncy ball, sherbet sand and a Twinkle. My tears had been brought on by Lassie finally finding his owner. I guess the relief was really too much for me and I just gulped and sobbed endlessly before my dad decided something drastic needed to be done. As this was the 1970's treats were only on birthdays and christmas, getting something on a normal day was a big deal which is probably why I remember it so clearly.

Buying old stuff isn't just about a love of the thing, it's about all those wonderful memories that are stirred up. Good memories that make me feel sad sometimes and squeeze my eyes tight so I don't well up. 

Now if you're eagle eyed you might have spied the Gumball Advent Santa in the shop window. Now he lives with us. Every now and then we pull the string between his legs to make his arms and legs shoot up and his eyes to flick back and forth. He has all the original gumballs behind all the windows, we'll be leaving them there.

Last night we decorated the tree. Gumball Santa joined all the other christmassy bits I've added here and there. I moved the deer bunting and put up my Kiss Kiss garland in its place. Not that I'm finished yet as there's a host of Santa's waiting to sit on shelves. Sometimes I wonder if I could do a stylish minimal as I do like it when I see it. Somehow in my hands loads of stuff gets added to the mix.

The Bun's made a wonderful job of decorating the tree. While I wound lights they went through the boxes with such delight at all the memories they were uncovering. Small tree crackers made by my Mr's dad when he was small, decorations made by the Bun's and others that we have given them each christmas.

All endless memories evoked by the past and the small rituals we are creating of our own. Simple things that remind me of so many other stories.